Two Redwood Wine Cork Displays

Here’s a couple more wine cork displays. These two are made from redwood with walnut and maple miter keys. Both where for a a coworker who wanted them for Christmas presents. This makes ten of about the fifteen I need to make by Christmas. Everyone seems to want one, but after Christmas I’m taking a break from them. I’d like to try some different design ideas before I agree to make anymore, cleaning the glass after finishing them is a big pain.

Both of these measure 10”x10”x2.75” and hold about 80 wine corks. The finish is four coats of Formby’s Tung Oil followed by a couple coats of wax. On the next set, I’m going back to the BLO followed by poly or shellac. The Formby’s is nice and easy, but the BLO just makes the colors of the redwood so much richer, even if I do make a mess every time I use BLO…

Hey David, these are nice looking miter keyed boxes and a fun idea with the bottle corks ! I took a look at Your TS jig as well ( I am in the designing phase of a jig that will mount to My CC sled) and liked some of the features on the sled . Obviously it works well, the mitered keys turned out great ! I did notice that the corners of the front box seem to be more round over than the back one, or is it just the way it looks in the pic. Anyways,once again nice work and be safe !

I love your idea of making a miter key jig to add to a CC sled! I’m going to make myself a sled here soon and may do the same. Thanks for the comments on the miter keys, I got myself a CMT combination blade at Lowes with F+ATB teeth and it sure made a big difference. And yes, the darker box with the walnut has a quarter inch round over on all edges. That’s a good way to cover up dings in the corners!

David,Hope you don’t mind, but I borrowed your design a few months ago. I have a friend with a sawmill who is always giving me a deal on lumber, so I make him things. I decided to make his wife a coin bank with some highly figured maple her husband gave to me.

Well the assembly went well, but I used a sheet of plastic (is glass a better option)? All went well untill I went to brush on some finish on the outside and as I was brushing the entrance of the hole, lacquer sprayed on the inside portion of the plexy glass from the bristles of the brush. I didn’t know this until I was almost ready to send it to him. I spent the next few hours trying to bend a coat hanger with kleenex and windex trying to clean the inside of the bank. Got most of it, but lacquer is hard to clean up.

Also I have to admire the shape of the entrance of your bank, it is absolutely perfect. Don’t know how you did yours, but I cut mine on a lathe then assemble the piece. This was a learning project for me and next time I am going to figure out how to make the glass piece removable (maybe make a sliding door on the very bottom}. I want to be able to remove the plastic (plastic or glass) because I am thinking of building a smaller one of these and fill it with candy, and pass them out as christmas gifts and it would be easier for one to clean.

Just wanted to thank you for posting this project and I hope you don’t mind me “borrowing” your project Idea. The lady thought it was a very nice idea. She is storing some antique marbles inside.

I’m flattered that you made one of my wine cork displays! Sounds like you have some of the same problems I did on my first one. I started using glass because it’s too easy to scratch the plastic. I make the back out of plywood and place it freely in a rabbit in the back. I make sure it’s a really snug fit because I don’t use any fasteners. That way if people ever want to remove the corks, coins, or marbles, the can just reach through the hole with a finger and pop that back out. It’s got to be a pretty snug fit. I really need to find a different way to do the back though. This makes finishing the box much, much easier. What I do is tape the glass as best as I can with blue painters tape, finish the box including wax, then I remove the tape and clean the glass very carefully with a razor blade and some Windex. Actually, I have my girlfriend do the glass cleaning, she’s much better at it. As for the hole on top, I cut that with a spade bit with a cordless drill, then I place it on a 1/2” or 3/4” rounder over bit on the router. I can remember which size bit I use, but I it’s the biggest one I have. You’ve got to be careful freehand routing the opening because it will through the piece if you’re not careful.

I’d love to see pictures of yours if you have any, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Thanks again.

I guess I’m confused on how exactly the back is attached, or not? It pops out, not slides out? If I understand correctly, it’s stimply a snug fit, but is loose on all four sides, correct?

What if you cut a dado along the side pieces and top piece and slide the wood in from the bottom? That way, you could still hang it on a wall if you wanted to and gravity would hold everything in place. You could even have a removeable peg/dowel/key that sits almost flush with the back, temporarily holding the back from sliding out of the dados, but making it easy enough to remove the back when need be.

Maybe a couple of “working” pictures would show us how it goes together?

Certainly a great concept!

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."